By Donna Olmstead
You know you’re watching beginners soccer when …
* You can’t tell if the players actually have knees.
* Two playersstop to chat in the middle of the game.
* One player keeps wandering toward his mom on the sidelines.
* A lot of the siblings are still in strollers.
*Parents yell “get a guy!” when they mean “mark a player.”
* “Pass” isn’t a relevant word.
* Parents tie the players’ shoes.
* Just before the game starts, the coach asks, “Did everyone go to the bathroom?”
* Players are more interested in who brought snacks than in who won the game.
* The keeper’s legs are so short she can throw the ball farther than she can kick it.
* The coach just picks up players to put them into position.
*There are usually too many or too few players on the field.
* Jerseys are big enough to fit through at least two more seasons.
* The coach and parents frequently yell,“Go the other way!”
* “Swarm” pretty much describes the game plan.
* The keeper falls down and cries when a ball gets past him into the goal.
* Players don’t have to duck when they walk through the parents’ tunnel at the end of the game.
* Everyone gets a trophy when the season is over. (And for beginningplayers, that’s the best part of the game.)
(Florida resident Donna Olmstead has been involved in soccer through both her children and her grandchildren, aswell as housing professional players and owning and running an indoor soccer facility. She is a freelance writer and spends weekends trying to remember at which tournament she’s supposed to becheering.)
I love it! As a referee I always like to do the “U-Littles” so I can be with players who truly enjoy what they are doing!
I love it! As a referee I always like to do the “U-Littles” so I can be with players who truly enjoy what they are doing!
I love it! As a referee I always like to do the “U-Littles” so I can be with players who truly enjoy what they are doing!
You left off one of my favorites: The players insist on wearing their shin guards over their socks. (and why does it matter?)
You left off one of my favorites: The players insist on wearing their shin guards over their socks. (and why does it matter?)
You left off one of my favorites: The players insist on wearing their shin guards over their socks. (and why does it matter?)
Thanks, got a good chuckle reading this!Here’s one more, “when a player is knocked down or is tripped, a mom rushes on the field as first responder.”
Thanks, got a good chuckle reading this!Here’s one more, “when a player is knocked down or is tripped, a mom rushes on the field as first responder.”
Thanks, got a good chuckle reading this!Here’s one more, “when a player is knocked down or is tripped, a mom rushes on the field as first responder.”
One more, “when half the team sprints to the ball after it is 20 yards out of bounds”
One more, “when half the team sprints to the ball after it is 20 yards out of bounds”
One more, “when half the team sprints to the ball after it is 20 yards out of bounds”
When they use the 9-1-1 formation. 1 keeper, 9 in a swarm, and 1 standing outside of the swarm waiting for the ball to get loose.
When they use the 9-1-1 formation. 1 keeper, 9 in a swarm, and 1 standing outside of the swarm waiting for the ball to get loose.
When they use the 9-1-1 formation. 1 keeper, 9 in a swarm, and 1 standing outside of the swarm waiting for the ball to get loose.
1 more,water breaks every 12 min also known as quarters. Theres no quarters in soccer.
1 more,water breaks every 12 min also known as quarters. Theres no quarters in soccer.
1 more,water breaks every 12 min also known as quarters. Theres no quarters in soccer.
Your 5 year old son is in a 3v3 format. Sees his brother eating pizza on the sidelines, goes and takes a bite, gets back on the field to “recapture the ball” which, in his world, “it’s our ball and no one is going to steal it from us”, runs down to the little goal, with no goalie and plays with the ball until his “girlfriend” on his team makes her way downfield. He passes her the ball (about a foot a way) and she scores!! “What an outstanding, impressive play”, he must say to himself.
Your 5 year old son is in a 3v3 format. Sees his brother eating pizza on the sidelines, goes and takes a bite, gets back on the field to “recapture the ball” which, in his world, “it’s our ball and no one is going to steal it from us”, runs down to the little goal, with no goalie and plays with the ball until his “girlfriend” on his team makes her way downfield. He passes her the ball (about a foot a way) and she scores!! “What an outstanding, impressive play”, he must say to himself.
Your 5 year old son is in a 3v3 format. Sees his brother eating pizza on the sidelines, goes and takes a bite, gets back on the field to “recapture the ball” which, in his world, “it’s our ball and no one is going to steal it from us”, runs down to the little goal, with no goalie and plays with the ball until his “girlfriend” on his team makes her way downfield. He passes her the ball (about a foot a way) and she scores!! “What an outstanding, impressive play”, he must say to himself.
This list brought me back to my childhood of playing rec soccer and then later, reffing rec soccer…it’s hilarious and oh so accurate. You should consider adding it to this site called uknowpia (www.uknowpia.com), so we can add to the list and keep it alive.How about…you get one child each game that blatantly reaches down to stop the ball with his/her hands as it rolls by….or, throw-ins are kick-ins (wasn’t this way when I was growing up, but when I reffed, that was how it was done).
This list brought me back to my childhood of playing rec soccer and then later, reffing rec soccer…it’s hilarious and oh so accurate. You should consider adding it to this site called uknowpia (www.uknowpia.com), so we can add to the list and keep it alive.How about…you get one child each game that blatantly reaches down to stop the ball with his/her hands as it rolls by….or, throw-ins are kick-ins (wasn’t this way when I was growing up, but when I reffed, that was how it was done).
This list brought me back to my childhood of playing rec soccer and then later, reffing rec soccer…it’s hilarious and oh so accurate. You should consider adding it to this site called uknowpia (www.uknowpia.com), so we can add to the list and keep it alive.How about…you get one child each game that blatantly reaches down to stop the ball with his/her hands as it rolls by….or, throw-ins are kick-ins (wasn’t this way when I was growing up, but when I reffed, that was how it was done).
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i wnt to be a professional soccer player i tried so many time online to be finally i found this site they look good to help mi to be a professiona soccer
i wnt to be a professional soccer player i tried so many time online to be finally i found this site they look good to help mi to be a professiona soccer
I just want to say – my daughter and son love to play the game. I just encourage them both to do the best they can – my daughter may be the next Hamm. Do I tell her this ? No – I want her to exceed on her own, mind you – she knows mommy is there cheering., as I do for my 8 yr old – but his calling is football i think, hes quick and can score the goals just like his sis
I just want to say – my daughter and son love to play the game. I just encourage them both to do the best they can – my daughter may be the next Hamm. Do I tell her this ? No – I want her to exceed on her own, mind you – she knows mommy is there cheering., as I do for my 8 yr old – but his calling is football i think, hes quick and can score the goals just like his sis
I just want to say – my daughter and son love to play the game. I just encourage them both to do the best they can – my daughter may be the next Hamm. Do I tell her this ? No – I want her to exceed on her own, mind you – she knows mommy is there cheering., as I do for my 8 yr old – but his calling is football i think, hes quick and can score the goals just like his sis
Thought already wrote to post – Adris’ lil bro was 3yrs / he is now 5 yrs old. He jumped out of stroller and scored goals at both ends of the field – both coaches were overcome with laughter, to see this lil guy bring the ball to both ends – But like Adri says – just like me mommy – he wants the ball. I would never scream at my child – they are doing the best they can
Thought already wrote to post – Adris’ lil bro was 3yrs / he is now 5 yrs old. He jumped out of stroller and scored goals at both ends of the field – both coaches were overcome with laughter, to see this lil guy bring the ball to both ends – But like Adri says – just like me mommy – he wants the ball. I would never scream at my child – they are doing the best they can
Thought already wrote to post – Adris’ lil bro was 3yrs / he is now 5 yrs old. He jumped out of stroller and scored goals at both ends of the field – both coaches were overcome with laughter, to see this lil guy bring the ball to both ends – But like Adri says – just like me mommy – he wants the ball. I would never scream at my child – they are doing the best they can